“It is frustrating and upsetting that St Mary’s Cathedral, the mother church of Australia, has been used so provocatively to promote this event and such little sensitivity shown to people of faith.”
Church followers quickly launched a petition against it.
But late on Wednesday night, the council requested all performance groups use the official Sunset Piazza logo “to avoid any confusion”.
“The image of the cathedral to promote this Sunset Piazza event has been removed,” a council spokeswoman said.
“Senior members of the church have recently told the City they had no objection to the Heaps Gay event going ahead.”
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore with Australian jazz legend James Morrison at the launch of Sunset Piazza, Cathedral Square. Credit:Louise Kennerley
Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore said Sydney was an inclusive place that celebrated and welcomed diversity.
“There is no place for hate, intolerance or the sowing of division,” Cr Moore said. “As we seek to revitalise the city centre and recover from the impact of the pandemic, we will continue to host inclusive, accessible and safe events.”
On Friday, the rainbow flag will be raised over Town Hall to mark the beginning of this year’s Mardi Gras festival.
The Sunset Piazza space is on public land with “inclusive and accessible events providing equitable opportunities for people who live, work and visit the City of Sydney,” she said.
The office of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has been contacted for comment.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated the cathedral image appeared on a City of Sydney website, this was not the case.
Most Viewed in National
Loading
